The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-21
RIOTOUS STRIKERS.
Serious Encounter in the Coke Regions-A
Number of Persons Badly Injured.

PITTsBURG, May 20-A serious phase in the
contest at Everson. Pa, was developed this
morning, when a mob of 300 miners marching
in body, and generally armed with biudgeons,
suddenly appeared il the coke yard at the jim
town works of Colonel Schoonmaker. Without
warning they made savage attack little
knot of men who were engaged in drawing out
the coke from the ovens there. This coke has
been in the ovens since the strike commenced.
and some eight or ten Iaborers had been engaged
to draw it out. While SO engaged the mob sud-
denly rushed in on them and brutally attacked
them. Such of the laborers could not escape
were cruelty beaten, one man having both arms
broken and being so badly kicked that his life is
despaired of. Six men altogether were beaten
very severely. All the barrows and tools used
in the works were destroyed by the mob Hav-
ing effectualy accomplished their mission at
Jimtown, the rioters marched through Dawson
and across the Youghiogeny river to the works of
James Cochran & Sons. Mr.. Cochran's sons
assisted by some non-unon men. had watered
out the ovens of this firm and drawn the coke
from a few ovens, and the anger of
the mob directed against them.
Fortunately the hour early and no
one yet working in Cochran's yards at
Nellie and Clarissa, but the mob, in the absence
of human victims, wreaked their vengeance upon
the coke wagons and tools at those works, de-
stroying all such movable property they could
lay hands After this they scattered, their
work being accomplished. and at this hour are
struggling off to their homes though a large
number are still congregated in the neighbor-
hood of Cochrans works Sheriff Miller has
been wired. and is now on his way to the scene
with posse. The mob from Wheeler,
Trotter and Leisenring and was composed chiefly
of Hungarians and negroes. The action of this
morning, it is said, was decided upon in open
meeting of the men, held yesterday afternoon
The riot was caused by an attempt on the part
of the operators to save the coke now in the
ovens 80, 900 tons of coke, worth $50, 900. is be-
ing burned up. The coal miners, coal haulers
and oven workers have all been paid for filling
the ovens, but the strikers refused to allow any
body to draw the coke and saveit from total loss.
No attempt has been made by the operators to
start up their works or put in new men. They
are merely trying to save the coke already made.
1t is reported that order has been received
from General Master Workman Powderlv order
ing the Knights of Labor in the coke regions to
return TO work, as the strike is illegal
The names of the injured are as follows:
Michael Blasco, both arms broken and internally
injured probably fatally; Michael Muca, Sc
versly hurt; Ban JAG, severely injured about the
head; John Helm and Andrew Walker. injured
about the head and body. but not dangerously.
A Chronicle It Telegraph special from Connells-
vile. Pa. says: Reports of the number in
jured are conflicting, several were quite seri-
ousy hurt at Cochran's works The son of the
proprietor was shot at a number of times, but
escaped injury. The rioters are now gathered
at Dawson. and more trouble is feared 1t was
learned this afternoon that some of the officials
of the labor organizations are blamed for the
visit this morning 1t is said that they advo-
Gated such movement on the part of the strik-
ers This mornings riot is likely TO result in
Wholesale arrests in which tne ringieacers will
be specially ferrered ont